I'm concerned for a bearded dragon I found in the middle of a street. (Named him Talons) He had to have been let out and abandoned during the summer, as it had snovved in the spring, as it is Illinois. The first thing I noticed vvas that he had a gigantic lump on his upper tail. He vvas fat though, vvhich confused me. I got a blanket from my garage and scooped him up, bringing him to my room vvhere my old bearded dragon stuff used to be.
My first act vvas to bathe him, to get rid of all the terrible grime and dirt that vvas all over him. VVhile in the shallovv side of the vvater, he started to defecate. It vvas all brovvn diarrhea, and I noticed strangely there vvas the hollovv shell of a supervvorm/mealvvorm. There vvas one solid vvhite normal chunk of poop. Aftervvards I examined his vent, seeing vvhite scales/dots all around it. I don't knovv if that is his shedding or parasites, or vvhat!
As I began to see his vveight improve, I noticed that he alvvays made a vveird puffing sound vvhich sounded like a balloon vvith air coming out, and his head and body vvould shake really hard.
He also appears to have tail rot.
s.o.s!!
Aside from that lump it seems to me like he's in pretty good shape! I think he was only recently abandoned. He mightve been developing that bump and the owner didn't want to worry about the problem so they let him go.
I'm not really good with things like this, it could be a result from MBD or some sort of growth/tumor...
Like I said though, he really doesn't look too bad at all. He's lucky you found him!!
Thank you sososososososo much! I vvas extremly concerned to be completly honest, as my vet appointment is soonest in tvvo vveeks. You are a mini-lifesaver before I get to the vet, and I vvill post as of then to see vvhat it is.
The more I look at it along with his tail, I'm almost certain it's MBD related. Just make sure he's getting plenty of calcium and UVB and although it's irreversible as I'm sure you know, I think he will be just fine
The more I look at it along with his tail, I'm almost certain it's MBD related. Just make sure he's getting plenty of calcium and UVB and although it's irreversible as I'm sure you know, I think he will be just fine
I've about increased by .5 the amount of calcium he is getting vveekly. I vvant to make sure he is healthy even vvith MBD. I first noticed after the lump hovv unnaturally his tail tvvists to the side. Atleast he's off the streets novv! Heh. I'm not sure hovv recently he vvould have been released, as it stormed a fevv days back. Lucky guy to finally have a secure home! haha
The tail almost looks to be broken and that Knott looks like it might be related to it. I could be wrong but I hope its not mbd. Xrays should tell you what's going on.
That vvas my first concern. I looked hard at the knot and googled alot of broken bone structured. I knevv it could not be related to his backbone because he still had feeling in his bacck side. From my zookeeper training I knovv that any clot that big vvould definetly have snapped his spinal cord if related to his vertebrate.
I believe it may be the tail being broken, as the junction of the hips and the legs seemed to be pushed up alot. I noticed though he drags his right leg vvhile vvalking, and that is vvhere the higher side of the lump seems to be. The thing that mystifies me is the vvay it must have been an extremly old injury. I can't remember exactly the reason but one of my local zoo's staff gave me a small checkup to just make sure he vvas parasite free. Nope, he had an infestation of mites and parasites. VVe only had a small amount of time and a very lovv price but I did get that information.
Thanks for all of your help! I have a vet appointment on the 19th, by the vay.
For the first time in a vveek Talon pooped vvhile being bathed. The only thing is - it vvas only sand, no urate, nothing. Just sand. I'm so confused because he lives on reptile carpet and has never come into contact vvith sand since I found him about a vveek ago.
????
I think it is very possible that it could be an old injury but his tail also has several kinks in it which is metabolic bone disease related.
He must have been on sand before you got him. Sometimes, it can be stored for months in their tracts before passing it all through. He should eventually get it all passed but it may take some time.
How is his appetite? He looks so cute though & in good spirits.
It's so sad that someone dumped him, I don't understand what's wrong with people.
I think it is very possible that it could be an old injury but his tail also has several kinks in it which is metabolic bone disease related.
He must have been on sand before you got him. Sometimes, it can be stored for months in their tracts before passing it all through. He should eventually get it all passed but it may take some time.
How is his appetite? He looks so cute though & in good spirits.
It's so sad that someone dumped him, I don't understand what's wrong with people.
Thanks! Recently, he has been refusing the salads and crickets I have been offering but has been eating the pellets exclusivley vvhen I put them in as a last resort. I'm so confused, as he is not in brumation, on vvhy this vvould be.
Thank you, once again!!